Farmers Database To Hit 20mn By 2015

In order to increase the economic viability of agricbusiness in Nigeria, government says it hopes to capture 20million farmers in its database by 2015.

Presently, there are over 10million farmers in government's database nationwide.

Agriculture Minister, Mr. Adesina Akinwummi who disclosed this in Abuja said that with the new focus of government, it is essential that agriculture is practiced as business stressing that  "it is no longer what it used to be."

Director Extension Service, Mr. Bamidele Anieju, who represented the Agriculture Minister said that "Government is doing everything to ensure that Nigeria is transformed from being reliant on oil as a major source of Income."

The Coordinator of the Nigeria Centenary Exhibition, Mr. Okundaye Obhiozele noted that increased Foreign Direct Investment inflows into the country coupled with ongoing investments is an indication that Nigeria's economy is strong.
  "Nigeria is where you find indigenously owned products manufacturing companies where you have Nigerians running their activities single-handedly and also remaining competititve......There are so many other commercial resources available in commercial quantities which are being exploited in other to achieve the dream of Nigeria becoming one of the top ten industrialised nations of the world."

Mr. Obhiozele said that the centenary exhibition is meant to showcase the  transformation that has taken place in the various sectors.

"We want to tell the Nigerian story in graphic form,we want the young generation to see and understand the economic history of Nigeria in practical terms."

According to him, the exhibition will boost Nigeria's economic profile and engender confidence in all that the country has to offer,show its huge market potential and indicate that it is ready to grow and sustain its position as the giant of Africa.

"Despite the daunting challenges the Nigerian spirit has remained strong enough to overcome them considering that the economic indices have remained favourable overtime," he added.